Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashidi has finally been granted a visa to travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss the issue of thousands of stranded Pakistanis with Saudi authorities.
Talking to Business Recorder, Khizer Hayat Khan, Federal Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, said the Minister was granted a visa two days ago, and he was all set to fly to Saudi Arabia on August 15 along with Managing Director Overseas Foundation.
He said the Minister would meet high level Saudi officials to take up the issue and try to resolve it with them as soon as possible, besides visiting the camps of the stranded Pakistanis who had been suffering for the last several months.
About the delay in grating visa to the Minister, he said it was not an issue as it often took some days to process a visa, and there was no truth in media reports that the Minister was denied the visa by Saudi authorities.
The Foreign Office has estimated around 8,520 Pakistanis, working in two companies namely Saad Trading and Contracting Company, Al-Khobar (520 workers) and Saudi Oger Limited (8,000 workers), are currently facing problems in getting their salaries and End of Service benefits.
To a question about Saudis giving assurances to Indians while not to Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that well before media reports appeared on Saudi assurances to India for its workers, Saudis at ministerial level had assured all facilitation to affected Pakistani employees.
"The Saudis had assured us that Pakistanis who want to stay back to receive claims can stay even if their permits have expired. Saudis have also assured that no affected Pakistani would be asked to leave before the matter is settled," he added.
He further stated that Saudi Arabia had no objection in case the affected employees get 'Naqal kafala' and find a job elsewhere in the Kingdom, adding Saudi officials had also called upon companies to settle the dues of the stranded Pakistanis immediately.
He said the policy of a country did not vary on the basis of nationality, adding whatever facility was offered to one country's workers, the same was offered to the workers of other countries.
"Besides Pakistan, there are nationals of many countries including some Saudi nationals. The King has also directed companies to settle their over dues. Our Ambassador was received by the Saudi FM and Saudi Minister for Manpower and they assured full cooperation," he added.
The spokesperson also said the Embassy had provided food on various occasions to Pakistanis in the companies' various camps, and the Ambassador had visited every camp personally to express support.
"Our embassy officials have been visiting these camps regularly since May this year and even earlier. Those who were receiving 200 riyals per month for food from the companies are being paid that amount by the Embassy," he added.